Joe Willock, Calum Wilson Fire Newcastle To A 2-0 Win Over Manchester United

Joe Willock and Callum Wilson scored the goals as Newcastle United beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Premier League at St James' Park. The result sees Newcastle move level with Manchester United on 50 points, but they rise above Erik ten Hag’s men on goal difference. The Red Devils drop to fourth, one point ahead of Tottenham having played one game fewer.

Joe Willock and Callum Wilson were on target as Newcastle United leapfrogged top-four rivals Manchester United into third spot in the Premier League with a convincing 2-0 victory at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s hosts were completely dominant throughout the first half as they looked for the dual reward of moving back into the Champions League places and avenging their League Cup final defeat to the Red Devils back in February.

Manchester United were far from their best and were grateful to goalkeeper David de Gea on 16 minutes when he produced a brilliant double save to keep out Alexander Isak’s header and Willock from close range.

Sean Longstaff then whistled a scorching 25-yard shot inches past the far post before Willock somehow failed to keep his 10-yard strike down after lovely build-up from Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin.

Man United had been buoyed by the news Marcus Rashford was fit to start, but the away side struggled to find their talisman as they failed to manage a single shot on target in the opening 45 of a top-flight match for the first time this season.

Newcastle struggled to hit the same heights following the restart but remained the better side and deservedly broke the deadlock past the hour when a brilliant move ended with Willock finally getting his goal with a simple close-range header from Saint-Maximin’s nod back.

Substitute Callum Wilson headed in a late second to clinch the points and heat up the race for the Champions League places.

The result sees Newcastle move level with Man United on 50 points, but they rise above Erik ten Hag’s men on goal difference. The Red Devils drop to fourth, one point ahead of Tottenham having played one game fewer.

Next up, Man United host Brentford on Wednesday night while Newcastle visit West Ham.

TALKING POINT

Key month off to a poor start for Man United. One down, eight to go. There’s no denying ten Hag has enjoyed a very positive first campaign in the Old Trafford dugout, but a promising beginning could yet go either way with the final, most important furlong still to come.

April could define the level of success of this campaign with some favourable league fixtures on paper as well as a clash at top-four rivals Tottenham. Mixed in between the five Premier League matches is the small matter of a two-legged Europa League quarter final with Sevilla and an FA Cup semi final with Brighton.

It should be exciting times for United fans, but the manner of this defeat won’t sit well and there will be concerns that they are edging slightly off the rails as they have been dragged back into a battle for a Champions League berth when just a few weeks ago there were very quiet whispers of an outside tilt for the title.

It could be that ten Hag needs to tinker with his line-up and it’s clear from social media and post-match phone-ins that patience is running out with the manager’s faith in Wout Weghorst.

As for Newcastle, there are completely contrasting feelings for Howe and his men now. There will have been fears they were running out of steam after dropping out of the top four, but they return their with a bang today and just like the Red Devils, April could be a defining month in terms of deciding whether they realise their ambitions or not.